Cabinet structure



Feb. 16, 1965 M. CANNON ETAL 3,169,813

CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 26, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. l.

\ mmll 1965 M. CANNON ETAL 3,169,813

CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 26, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

WITNESSES INVENTORS Lloyd M. Cannon and W \AiYlliom T. Vaughn Feb. 16, 1965 M. CANNON ETAL 3,169,813

CABINET STRUCTURE Fild Aug. 26, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent Ofiice 3,lb9,8l3 Patented Feb. 16, 1965 3,19,8i3 CATSEQET STRUQTURE Lloyd M. Cannon, Grove City, and Wiiliarn T. Vaughn, Upper Ariington, Ghi-o, assigners to Westinghouse Eiec= tric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pin, a corporation of Persusyivania Fiied Aug. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 3%,321 7 Ciairns. (til. 312-270) This invention relates to domestic refrigerator cabinets, and more particularly to a removable shelf, and associated support structure, for use in such cabinets.

A large number of the refrigerator cabinets presently being manufactured are provided with special containers for the storage of specific commodities such as vegetables, meats, etc. These containers, which take the form of slidable pans, are stored between the cabinet shelves and are kept covered during storage to maintain the moisture of the stored food. To effectively utilize the available space in the refrigerator cabinet, it is common practice to provide a shelf structure which serves to support the container for movement through the cabinet opening, and to provide a cover for the container when disposed in the cabinet.

When the slidable pans are installed adjacent the shelf structure, a problem exists in providing a shelf which is movable from the cabinet when so desired, but is not easily pulled or knocked off its supports during normal use of the storage pans. A solid shelf is necessary to provide a cover for the slidable pans and to facilitate cleaning the surface of the shelf structure, such a shelf structure should be easily removable. It is obvious also, that the easily removable shelf structure must remain positioned during an outward pull of the pans or when subjected to the loading of a pan partially removed from the compartment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shelf structure for slidably supporting a member, which structure is easily removable and assembled in a compartment and remains in place during slidable movement of the member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable shelf structure which is easily constructedand is easily installed in, or removed from, a compartment.

These objects of the invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing a shelf structure and cabinet compartment having a novel means for supporting the shelf adjacent a cabinet wall. The shelf structure has slots disposed thereon for receiving support members provided on the cabinet wall. The slots are so constructed that the shelf structure is easily removed by lifting at the rear and pulling forward simultaneously thereby disengaging the slots from the shelf support members. The shelf structure is easily assembled into the compartment by resting it on the support members and moving it rearwardly to engage the members into the slots.

However, the support structure is such that a straight pull up at the front of the shelf, a straight forward pull,

or a forward and upward pull are not effective to remove the shelf from the support members. Also, a downward push on the front of the shelf combined with a lifting force at the rear (such as would be caused by a partially removed pan supported by the shelf) does not remove the shelf from the support members.

It is obvious therefore that the forces produced on the shelf caused by a slidable pan supported thereby in accordance with this invention are not effective to disengage the shelf from the support members.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet having the invention employed therein;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing a shelf structure constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cabinet shown in FIG. 1, showing the shelf structure of FIG. 2 in top plan view, as installed in the cabinet;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IVIV of FIG. 3 showing a portion of the structure incorporating the invention in elevation;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 4 showing the structure incorporating the invention in front elevation;

FIG. 6 is a View taken along line VIVI of FIG. 4 showing a detail portion of the structure incorporating the invention; and

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are fragmentary views similar to FIG. 4 showing the shelf structure in various positions during removal from the cabinet.

Although the principles of the invention are broadly applicable to any cabinet wherein a removable shelf structure is employed to support a slidable member, the invention has been herein illustrated as employed in a refrigerator cabinet and will be so described.

Referring now to the drawings, especially FIG. 1, there is shown a refrigerator cabinet 10 having an upper freezing compartment 11 and a lower food storage compartment 12. A pair of opposed side walls 13 and 14 extend rearwardly from the cabinet front opening, and have disposed therebetween a plurality of shelves including shelf structure 16 supporting pans 17 and 18.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the shelf structure 16 comprises a rectangular plate 19, which may be glass or any other suitable material, having a rear channel member 21 and a front angle member 22 disposed on the rear edge and front edge, respectively, of the shelf structure. In addition, the shelf structure 16 has a left side portion 23 and a right side portion 24 disposed adjacent opposite sides of the plate 19 and a glide member 26 disposed in front to back relation adjacent the under side of the plate 19. The side portions 23 and 24 have upwardly facing glide surfaces 27 and 28, and the glide member 26 has a pair of upwardly facing surfaces 2? and 31 which cooperate with the surfaces 27 and 23 to support the slidable pans 17 and 18 therebetween. A resilient gasket 32 is held by clamping action between the lower surface of the plate 319 and the bottom flange of the channel member 21, and has a downwardly extending flange to provide a seal at the rear of the pans 17 or 18 when the pan openings are covered by the plate 19.

Reference should now be had to FIGURES 3 through 6 wherein the side wall 13 is shown to have a pair of support members 33 and 34 disposed adjacent thereto. As best shown in FIG. 6, each support member 33 and 34 is in the form of a cylindrical peg having a mushroom type head 35 or 35a provided at the end extending into the compartment 12. The side portion 23 of the shelf 16 has structure defining a forward slot 36 for receiving the front support member 33 and a rear slot 37 for receiving the rear support member 34, as shown in FIG. 4. The structure defining the front slot 36 comprises a rearwardly downwardly projecting lower surface 33 disposed beneath the support member 33, a substantially vertical surface 38a adjacent the member, and a rearwardly downwardly projecting surface 39 disposed above the support member and in contact therewith. The structure defining the rear slot 37 comprises a rearwardly downwardly proecting lower surface 41, a downwardly extending surface 42 disposed rearwardly of the support member 34, and a horizontal bearing surface '44. With the shelf structure 16 at rest as shown in FIG. 4, the forward support member 33 extends into the slot 36 and in contact with the a surfaces 39 and 38a, while the rear support member 34 extends into the slot 37 in contact with the surface 41 and the horizontal bearing surface 44.

Referring still toFIG. 4, it will be observed that a straight outward pull exerted on the shelf structure i6 causes the structure to move forward to a point at which 4 2 to'contact the cylindrical portion of the support member 34 again retaining the shelf structure on the support members 33 and 34. i

' Should a partially extended pan be subjected to a downward load, the overturning moment produced on the shelf structure 16 causes the surfacedl to be moved upwardly in contact with the cylindrical portion of the rear sup port member 34 and the support member 33 to be forced against the surfaces 39 and 33a, thereby preventing forward movement of the shelf structure, and as, in the previously cited situations, the shelf structure is retained in place. p a

The mushroom heads and 35a of the support memhere 33 and 34 respectively, when the latter are positioned in the slots, serve also to prevent lateral movement of the shelf structure to thereby permitting greater tolerances between the shelf structure and the cabinet walls 13 and 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the shelf structure'lo is shown to be easily removable from the'support membersSG and 34 by the following steps.

Starting at rest with the shelf structure 16 as shown in theidot-dash position of PEG. ,7, andwith the pans l7 and 13 removed, the structure is moved forward and upward to the position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 7 at which point the cylindrical portion of the front support member .33 contacts the surface 38 and the cylindrical portion of the support member 34 is in contact with i the vertical surface 42. The rear surface of the shelf A structure if is then lifted to the position shown in FIG. 8,

at which point the cylindrical portion of the rear support member 34 is positioned below the surface 42. The shelf structure is now moved forward and upward to the position as shown in FIG. 9 at which point the shelf structure is free of the support members 33': and 34 and may be removed through the front opening in the compartment 12. a

Although the novel support structure has been described with reference to the side portion 23 of the shelf structure 16, it is obvious that the side portion 24 of the shelf structure may be constructed in a similar manner,

and the side wall 14 provided with a pair of support members similar to the members 33 and 34, thereby providing a right hand structure similar to the left hand structure described.

From the foregoing description it should be obvious that the various objects of the invention have been achieved by providing a shelf support structure which may" be easily removed when desired, and which is not susceptible to accidental removal during normal use.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof.-

- What is claimedis:

15A cabinet structure having a plurality of walls in cluding a pair of opposedside walls defining a storage compartment and a front opening thereto,

a removableshelf structure disposed in said compartmerit and having a side portion adjacent each of said side walls, i

a front support member and a rear support member disposed adjacent each side wall for supporting said shelf structure, a t

each said shelf side portion having structure defining a forward slot for receiving'said front support member and a rear slot for receiving said rear support member,

said structure defining said forward slot comprising a rearwardly projecting lower surface disposed beneath a front support member and an opening at the rear of said forward slot for entry of said front support member thereto, and

said structure defining said rear slot comprising a rearwardly proiecting lower surface disposed beneath a rear support member and a downwardly extending surface disposed rearwardly of said rear support member, the terminal portion of said downwardly extending surface and said lower surface defining an opening at the rear of said rear slot for entry of said rear support member thereto,

whereby upward movement of said shelf structure causes oneof said support members adjacent each side wall to contact said respective rearwardly projectingsurfaces andforwardmovement of saidshelf causes the other of said support members adjacent each side wall to contact said downwardly extending surfaces; 1 2. "in the cabinetstructure defined in claim 1, a pair of spaced apart glide members disposed adjacent said shelf structure in front-to back relation to said compartment, and a a member siidably supported on said glide'rnembers.

3. A. cabinet structure having 'a plurality of walls including a pair of opposed side walls defining a storage compartment and a front opening thereto,

a removable shelf structure disposed in said compartmerit and having a side portion adjacent one of said side wa ls, r

a front support member and arear/support member disposed adjacent said one side wall for supporting said shelf structure, l i

said shelf side portion structure defininga for- Ward slot for receiving said front support 'rnernber and a rear slot for eceiving said rear support meme 7 a a said structure defining said forward slot comprising a rearwardly downwardly projecting lower surface disposed beneath said front support member and a rearwardly; downwardly projccting'upper surface "disposed above said front support member,

saidfupper and lower surfaces defining an opening at the rear of said forward slot for entry of said front suppont member thereto, and

said structure defining said rear slot comprising a rearwardly downwardly projecting lower surface disposed beneath said, rear support member and a downwardly extending surface disposed rearwardly of said rear support member, the terminal portions of sad downwardly extending surfaces defining an opening at the rear of said rear slot for entry of said rear support member thereto, I

whereby upward movement of said" shelf structure is prevented by one of said support members contacting said respective reairwardly downwardly projecting lower surface and forward movement of said shelf structure is prevented by said rear support member contacting said downwardly extending'surface.

4. Lathe cabinet structure defined in claim 3,

a of spaced apart glide members disposed adjacent said shelf structure in front to b ack relation to said oompartinent and t V a a member slidably supp-cited on said glide members for movement in the direction of said glide members.

a forward slot for receiving a front support member and a rear slot for receiving a rear support member, said structure defining said forward sl ot comprising. a

rearwardly downwardly projecting lower surface disposed beneath said received front support member and a rearwardly downwardly projecting upper surface disposed above said received front support member, a

said structure defining said rear slot comprising a rearwardly downwardly projecting lower surface disposed beneath said received rear support member and a downwardly extending surface disposed rearwardly of said received rear support member, the terminal portion of said downwardly extending surface and said lower surface defining an opening at the rear of said rear slot for entry of said rear support member thereto,

6. A refrigerator cabinet having a plurality of walls including a pair of opposed side walls defining a storage compartment and a front opening thereto,

a removable shelf structure disposed in said compartment and having a side portion adjacent each of said side walls, 1

a pair of spaced apart glide surfaces disposed adjacent a lower surface of said shelf structure in front to back relation to said compartment, i

a pan slid'ably supported on said glide members for movement in the direction of said glide members,

said side walls of said compartment each'having a front support member and a rear support member for supporting said shelf structure,

saidshelf side portions each having a structure defining a forward slot for receiving a front support member and a rear slot for'receiving a rear support member,

7 said structure defining said forward slot comprising a rearwardly downwardly projecting lower surface disposed beneath said received front support member and a rearwardly downwardly projecting upper surface disposed above said receivedyfront support member,

said structure defining said rear slot comprising a rearward-1y downwardly projecting tower surface disposed beneath said received rear support member and. a

i downwardly extending surface disposed rearwardly of said received rear support member, the terminal portion of said downwardly extending surface and 3 said lower surface defining an opening at the rear of said rear slot for entry of said rear support member, whereby each of said support members is retained in a respective slot when said pan is moved on said glide surfaces. 7. A refrigerator cabinet having a plurality of walls including a pair of opposed side walls defining a storage compartment and a front opening thereto,

a removable shelf structure disposed inisaid compare ment and having a slide portion adjacent each of said side walls,

a glide surface on each of said shelf side portions, and

a glide member disposed adjacent a lower surface of said shelf structure in front to back relation and having a pair of glide surfaces thereon,

a pan slidably supported on said glide surface on one of said side portions and on one of said surfaces of said glide member,

another pan slidably supported on said glide surface of the other of said side portions and the other surface of said glide member, i

said side walls of said-compartment each having a front support member and a rear support member for supporting said shelf structure,

said shelf side portions each having structure defining a forward slot for receiving a front support member and a rear slot for receiving a rear support member,

said structure defining said forward slot comprising a rearwardly downwardly projecting lower surface disposed'beneath said received front support member and a rearwardly downwardly projecting upper surface disposed above said received frontsupport memher, 1

said structure defining said rear slot comprising a rearwardly downwardly projecting lower surface disposed beneath said received rear support member and a downwardly extending surface disposed rearward'ly of said received rear support member, the terminal portion of said downwardly extending surface and said lower surface defining an opening at the rear of said rear slot for entry of said rear support member,

whereby each of said support'members is retained ina respective slot when said pans are moved on said glide surfaces.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dowdall Dec. '24, 1963 

1. A CABINET STRUCTURE HAVING A PLURALITY OF WALLS INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALLS DEFINING A STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND A FRONT OPENING THERETO, A REMOVABLE SHELT STRUCTURE DISPOSED IN SAID COMPARTMENT AND HAVING A SIDE PORTION ADJACENT EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS, A FRONT SUPPORT MEMBER AND A REAR SUPPORT MEMBER DISPOSED ADJACENT EACH SIDE WALL FOR SUPPORTING SAID SHELF STRUCTUE, EACH SAID SHELF SIDE PORTION HAVING STRUCTURE DEFINING A FORWARD SLOT FOR RECEIVING SAID FRONT SUPPORT MEMBER AND A REAR SLOT FOR RECEIVING SAID REAR SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID STRUCTURE DEFINING SAID FORWARD SLOT COMPRISING A REARWARDLY PROJECTING LOWER SURFACE DIPOSED BENEATH A FRONT SUPPORT MEMBE AND AN OPENING AT THE REAR OF SAID FORWARD SLOT FOR ENTRY OF SAID FRONT SUPPORT MEMBER THERETO, AND SAID STRUCTURE DEFINING SAID REAR SLOT COMPRISING A REARWARDLY PROJECTING LOWER SURFACE DISPOSED BENEATH A REAR SUPPORT MEMBER AND A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SURFACE DISPOSED REARWARDLY OF SAID REAR SUPPORT MEMBER, THE TERMINAL PORTION OF SAID DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SURFACE AND SAID LOWER SURFACE DEFINING AN OPENING AT THE REAR OF SAID REAR SLOT FOR ENTRY OF SAID REAR SUPPORT MEMBER THERETO, WHEREBY UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SHELF STRUCTURE CAUSES ONE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS ADJACENT EACH SIDE WALL TO CONTACT SAID RESPECTIVE REARWARDLY PROJECTING SURFACES AND FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SHELF CAUSES THE OTHER OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS ADJACENT EACH SIDE WALL OF CONTACT SAID DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SURFACES. 